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In high school they called me Miss Red Cheek. In the 80's I wanted to look like a supermodel so I applied dark rust brown stripes in my cheek hollows. As time passed I learned to use subtlety in my blush application and keep the look, color and texture natural. Experiment and practice with color and all the new textures. Remember, if it's dark to the touch, it will be too dark on your face.

What's out there:

Pencils, roll-up cream and gel sticks, bottles, and pans. There's all types of blush out today in stores and boutiques. From liquid to powder compact each has it's own unique application method and use.

Laura Mercier has several collections, From Bridal Collection, Mineral, to  Second Skin Cheek Color, a powder blush of natural sheer color.

CoverGirl Cheekers Blush, Instant Cheekbones Controuring Blush and Classic Color Blush in 4 shades.

Chanel JOUES CONTRASTE Powder Blush in Orchid Rose, Rose Bronze among the 5 shades. This is a limited collection so get going on it.

BeneFit has "BeneTint" $26. A ruby colored liquid that can be worn on lips, cheeks and eyes. It is applied with its own brush and is kiss proof, swim and sport proof.

Fall 2010 at NARS is Blush Douceur $26 A soft, sheer pressed powder blush and always a favorite, The Multiple the all in one lips, cheeks, eye stick. Goes on beautifully in Bronzer, Orgasm, Malibu

Almay has Smart Shade Blush a winner at CEW, in 3 shades. Very Pretty.

Blush comes in a variety of sticks, powders, minerals, gels, creams, and tints by all the brands. Look around the stores and test them on your cheek, not your hand.

Other great brands to check out are Bobbi Brown, Estée Lauder, Lancôme, Clinique, and M.A.C. Also check Jane, M. Professional, JKidd, Napoleon Purdis, L'Oreal, Lorac,  Maybelline, Revlon, Makeup Forever, and Stila. All the brands have powder compact blushes that go on with it's provided brush, or for a more professional application use a better quality blush brush.

What you're looking for is a natural healthy glow. The kind you would get when you blush or that healthy just worked out flush. When you apply blush youâll be using your finger, sponge (for cream or gel blush) or brush. Find the apple of your cheek by smiling and looking into the mirror. The round part that pulls up is the apple of the cheek. Run your finger down from the top of the cheekbone into the hollow of the cheek. To give the illusion of a contoured cheek apply either a slightly darker blush in the hollow, or align your blush brush so that the bottom side of the brush is laying at the deepest part of the hollow. You then brush back and forth moving up the cheek to the cheekbone. Start at the point of your cheek just below the middle of the eye and work up towards the temple. This technique gives the cheek a 3 dimensional look because more color was on the brush when you started at the hollow of the cheek and less color at the cheekbone (high part) giving a highlighted effect. Or you can use a highlight shade. Just be sure to blend and overlap the 2 shades a bit.

Using cream and gel sticks or liquid tints: For a natural flush look, apply 3 dots either directly from the stick, pencil or bottle or with your finger to the apple of your cheek. Use your fingers or sponge to blend.

Face shape: If you have a round shaped face, keep the blush more to the sides, and add blush to the temple areas. Wear your hair a little longer to soften the sides of your face. If your face is thin apply a soft light blush towards the center of the cheek to accent the front rather than sides of your face giving a fuller look. If you have a long shaped face, apply a little blush to your chin and forehead and use a side part or bangs rather than a center part or hair straight back.

Color Choice: Personally I like beige pink, ruby and raisin shades. They look great on just about everyone. You can experiment with color and when you try color on at the store, apply it directly to your cheek and go into natural light with your trusty hand mirror that you keep with you to shop for cosmetics. Rule of thumb, blondes look best in soft pinks and beiges, Redheads can check out tawny, ginger and peach shades. Brunettes look best in raisin, tawny and rose shades. Raven hair looks best in tawny, berry, reds and roses. Silver hair is best with cool shades in the pink and berry family.

TIPS

1. •Always blend your edges. And then blend some more.
   

2. •Check your blush in natural light. In the evening apply a little extra
   or a more striking color to compensate for artificial lights.
   

3. •Shake or tap the blush brush before you apply the color to your face.
   

4. •For more mature skin use iridescent shades sparingly.
   

5. •When in doubt, less is best.
   

6. •You can go over too much blush with a little dual finish powder to soften
   

7. •Sometimes we think we need more blush than we do. Apply just a little blush at first, then go on to eyes and lips. Once you are done with your entire makeup stand back, look in the mirror and see if you need a little more blush to balance the look.
   

8. •Refresh your blush at the end of the day when you're tired for that Scarlet O'Hara pinched cheek look